NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Neuropsychological assessments of adults with SLE have shown cognitive impairment, sequential processing deficits, memory loss, increased in cidence of left handedness, learning disabilities and emotional distre ss compared with healthy individuals or subjects with other medical co nditions. Neuropsychological testing regarding these variables in chil dren and adolescents with SLE has been infrequently reported. For this study, eight children with SLE (age 9-17 years at diagnosis) were ass essed with neuropsychological testing at a median of 10.5 months (rang e 1 week to 30 months) after diagnosis. Tests included Wechsler Intell igence Scale for Children-Revised or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale -Revised, Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised, Standard Binet Intellig ence Scale Fourth Edition Memory Subtests or Wechsler Memory Scale (al l mean = 100 +/- 15) and Gates MacInitie Reading Comprehension Test, A chenbach Child Behavior Checklist and Achenbach Youth Self Report. Mea n intellectual scores were in the low average range (Wechsler Full Sca le mean = 85.0 +/- 11.9, Verbal Scale mean 85.2 +/- 13.9: Performance Scale mean = 88.0 +/- 13.9). Academic achievement was globally depress ed (reading recognition mean = 79.5 +/- 22.0, spelling mean = 78.9 +/- 23.5), especially in arithmetic (mean = 70.5 +/- 14.9). Children with SLE averaged 5 years behind grade placement in reading comprehension. Visual memory was also depressed in patients with SLE. Behavior ratin gs failed to demonstrate any significant aberrations in the test subje cts.